V16

Speaking of beautiful Sport Sedans, here is perhaps the ultimate with a V windshield as well, the Duesenberg 20 Grand while in the possession of the famous Cameron Peck of Evanston Illinois . In 1953 , under pressure from the IRS, Peck hired cameraman Don McCray to photograph his collection and send them to interested parties. The set of photos was sent out in a box set. Each car in the set would have been the premiere car of any collection today.

Following a lead for some Packard parts led me to a gentleman in N.E. Ohio who shared with me theses photos of a Dietrich he had owned in the early 50's while stationed in the military in New Jersey. He said the car was his daily driver till he burned up the Deluxe Eight engine. He looked for a long time but could not find a suitable Super Eight motor but that 12's were plentiful. He installed a Twin Six motor and continued to drive it ending up with it in Wisconsin. He sold the car and I believe this is the car in the Nethercutt collection today. The hood on the 12 was in better shape than the original so he swapped it out and that is why the hood is black in the photos.

Another survivor, more to come

By the way, here is as close as I got to that fabulous car, we have driven it cross country and I love it!

Mr. Thiel was a real gentleman and I enjoyed my visit with him. I thought I had a real shot at buying the car but he died a month later and you know the rest of the story, Here are some photos taken with the early version of a digital camera, the Sony Mavica, so hence the poor quality. Time goes by so quickly... seems like a few months ago.

Hi John, thanks for asking. It has been a frustrating search and I am shocked by the lack of products available to the restorer in today's marketplace. There just does not seem to be anything available that would duplicate original choices offered in the earlier eras. That leaves one with the choice of using a non authentic fabric sourced thru a Jo-anne store or other retail vendor. These would not only appear to be incorrect but would probably not hold up to the rigors of automotive application. Hoping to hear from some other s about sources not yet found, Allen

Restoring a 1932 Packard 5 pass. coupe, trying to locate automotive grade fabric has been difficult. Looking for suggestions on where to purchase a high quality Bedford Cord material like the original , photo attached. If there is someone that has a supply of unused fabric that matches this please advise. This would be a good opportunity to sell off some material that you will not be using. The original fabric was a Laidlaw 319D Broadcloth or sometimes referred to as a bedford cord. The original color is in the blue grey range. Please feel free to call me, Allen at 217 778 1425 or email to this site, thanks for any help.

Restoring a 1932 Packard 5 pass. coupe, trying to locate automotive grade fabric has been difficult. Looking for suggestions on where to purchase a high quality Bedford Cord material like the original , photo attached. If there is someone that has a supply of unused fabric that matches this please advise. This would be a good opportunity to sell off some material that you will not be using. The original fabric was a Laidlaw 319D Broadcloth or sometimes referred to as a bedford cord. The original color is in the blue grey range. Please feel free to call me, Allen at 217 778 1425 or email to this site, thanks for any help.

Restoring a 1932 Packard 5 pass. coupe, trying to locate automotive grade fabric has been difficult. Looking for suggestions on where to purchase a high quality Bedford Cord material like the original , photo attached. If there is someone that has a supply of unused fabric that matches this please advise. This would be a good opportunity to sell off some material that you will not be using. The original fabric was a Laidlaw 319D Broadcloth or sometimes referred to as a bedford cord. The original color is in the blue grey range. Please feel free to call me, Allen at 217 778 1425 or email to this site, thanks for any help.

Restoring a 1932 Packard 5 pass. coupe, trying to locate automotive grade fabric has been difficult. Looking for suggestions on where to purchase a high quality Bedford Cord material like the original , photo attached. If there is someone that has a supply of unused fabric that matches this please advise. This would be a good opportunity to sell off some material that you will not be using. The original fabric was a Laidlaw 319D Broadcloth or sometimes referred to as a bedford cord. The original color is in the blue grey range. Please feel free to call me, Allen at 217 778 1425 or email to this site, thanks for any help.

I have always thought they look great, distinctive,high quality and more practical for night driving as the light is spread more evenly over a wider distance.

Thanks for the lead, I have heard that this company does nice work, but they do not show the correct pattern for my car. Besides, it is my intention to preserve and maintain as many of the original features on this car as possible... they are only original once and I feel very fortunate to be the caretaker of this fine machine. There is something very special about the smell of the of an original car, the wool broadcloth, the wood garnish moldings and the aging carpet that have absorbed into their core a sense of history and quality of a bygone era. What cars of today would have held up as well 86 years later?

It is black, came from the Crawford family of Cleveland. They started the Crawford museum. Nice original car. Would love to find some Laidlaw 734 Broadcloth, new or used to repair some minor flaws in the drivers seat.

Looking for a suggestion for a product or material to preserve and seal original running board rubber. I have a 1936 Packard which is a very nice original car which is showing some cracks and deterioration on the running boards. I would like to seal and protect the material for the future. Any suggestions?

Hi John, My address is Allen Strong, 111 N. Race Street, Urbana, Illinios 61801

Thanks John, will go out tomorrow, Allen

I would like to buy your filter, can I call you or if you prefer you can call me , Allen at 217 778 1425, Thanks

Hi Jon, can you be more specific as to the application of the air valve springs and what year and engine they fit. Also, is this for both springs,thanks Allen

Looking to find a good condition exhaust manifold for a 1934 Packard Std. 8, please call or message Allen at 217 778 1425. Always interested in other prewar Packard Senior parts, thanks!!! I believe a 33 would work as well.

Looking to find a good condition exhaust manifold for a 1934 Packard Std. 8, please call or message Allen at 217 778 1425. Always interested in other prewar Packard Senior parts, thanks!!!

To John and Fred, thank you so much for taking the time to post all this great info. I have been fascinated by and been a collector of these wonderful Sparton horns for 30 years and have many sets, some of them are New Old Stock in the original boxes. Many of them came from the estate of Sam Haight, an early collector of great classics in the LaSalle , Illinois area. I was fortunate enough to purchase his 903 Packard Dual Cowl Phaeton after he had passed away. It was shared with me by his son in law that Sam often told the story of how he came to love the Sparton horns. When he was a youngster his Mother would take the children to play at a local park in their 1929 Packard. The kids would be released to play for hours and trained to listen to the unique song of their mothers Sparton horn when they were to return to the car to go home. Apparently, this was common between other mothers , each having their own Sparton tune so that the kids could tell which Mom was beckoning their return. This had left a sentimental spot in his heart for the Sparton horns and he collected them for many years. This information is much appreciated and will make the task of putting the horns more readilly back in service. I attach a photo of the Packard that I now own and drive often that Sam used to own, Allen Strong

Here is a car from my collection, a 1929 Packard American national in original condition. This sits next to our 1930 Packard Roadster.